Their Perfect Match: Promise Me Forever / Adam's Image

by Debbie Macomber

Two classic romances of women discovering that the unlikely hero might be their perfect partner.

Promise Me Forever
Physical therapist Joy Nielsen has never been daunted by the challenges of her career. And her latest patient, businessman Sloan Whittaker, isn't going to change that, no matter how hard he's making things. After a serious accident, he's refusing to relearn how to walk. Joy is determined to make sure he recovers, and once he does, she's prepared to move on to her next patient. There's only one problem: after a soul-searing kiss, she doesn't think she can get over him...

Adam's Image
To all the world, Susan McKenzie, successful romance editor, seemed to be the perfect heroine. But there was one thing missing in her life, and that was the perfect hero. Then she met Dr. Adam Gallagher. He seemed to fit the role perfectly--surely together they would live happily ever after. But Adam didn't seem to want to play the hero's role. Aloof and somewhat mysterious, his professional detachment could drive any woman wild. Was he throwing a twist into Susan's well-plotted life?

Genres: Romance

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published November 26, 2019

About the author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Reviews

[Jennifer Deutsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings. I love Debbie Macomber’s books & I know these were written in 1985. My main issue was with the second book.
There were many places in the book where there should have been spaces between the different scenes & breaks where different people are talking. So I found the flow of the book difficult when I realized the next sentence didn’t belong to what just happened or realizing someone else is telling within the same paragraph.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two old stories that still are entertaining & sweet. I read these as a teen so they are good clean reading.

Promise Me Forever (1985)
Adam's Image (1985)

Well written stories that stand the test of time.

[Vicky Derderian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just finished story #1 I originally bought this book because i saw the heroine was a Physical Therapist. The story quickly became so unrealistic and I was very put off by the lack of professionalism. Normally I love this author....not this one.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I hadn’t read other Debbie Macomber books before this two-in-one, I would not have read anymore and would have missed out on the Mannings and Orchard Valley,etc. These books almost didn’t seem like they were written by the author I enjoy. While the first book was okay, the second story, Adam’s Image, was a real problem for me. It was so disjointed. Being a re-release, I think the publishers skimped and edited out scenes. One minute Susan is talking to Adam and the next she is talking to her roommate...no page break...paragraph break division. I kept wanting to tell Susan, he just isn’t into you...get over it. There seemed to be a hang up on looks. While I liked Susan initially and the doctor, soon I was tired of the pair. She kept almost stalking him and taking an interest in running because he was a runner. He would be happy to see her then not because she reminded him of someone else. Nope... I didn’t like this story at all.

[Iphone Three · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first story, but i absolutely hated the second one. I feel like i’ve never read something so realistic which is great. but i hated the second part because the girl had such low standards she kept staying with the dude. this is my opinion. he never communicated, would never be consistent, always dipped, but she stayed and never gave up. which in the authors eyes may be “a love story” but i feel like it wasnt a good love story because i genuinely believe she should’ve broken up with him. i get why he was so distant or whatever, but basically the whole second part of the book is her waiting around for him n then her showin up to places he was at because he didnt show any effort until she’d make moves. it was so inconsistent that it generally pissed me off so much. the first story is great, it talks about her feelings a lot, the guy doesnt give up, theres raw emotions shown on both sides of the first part. i just had so much anger reading about Susan and Adam. Everybody would tell susan how much he cared for her but never noticed how inconsistent their relationship was.

[Sarah A · Rating 1 out of 5]

I normally really enjoy Debbie Macomber books, usually as lighter reads between other books.
This book contains two stories. I read the first one and thought ok - I wasn’t happy with it. Yes it’s a romance, it’s an inappropriate one with the physical therapist falling for the patient. Instead of a gentle falling in love story, it’s abrupt and tortured and just didn’t flow nicely or enjoyably.
I started the second story and within the first chapter was feeling yucky about how badly this story was going so I did not finish.
Her usual books are gentle and fun and yes contain romances that are often inappropriate for some reason.
These stories just felt like they’d been written by a naive writer who had been given a word limit to aim towards and told to have the characters just get to it.

[GarageNinja1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has 2 stories in it.

Promise me forever

Sloan Whittaker had an accident and needed physical therapy. His family was very wealthy and hired a physical therapist to live in the family home to get Sloan back on his feet. This story is about healing, love and two worlds colliding to make one. Great story. Very well written.

Adams image

Susan a romance editor was looking for love. She met Adam who’s a Dr at an outing and was intrigued by him. He is a haunted man. Haunted by the loss and hurt of another woman. This story is about his tribulations of learning how to trust another woman to not break his heart. It’s a story of love that ends on a good note.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't give away spoilers in my reviews. I was so excited to read this book since I really like Debbie Macomber's books and characters.
I think since this was written in 1985, it just isn't the Debbie Macomber I'm used to reading.
I finished the first story and liked it at first but then it was just too unrealistic for me. I couldn't bring myself to read the second story.
I'm still a big fan..just of her current work.

[JoAnn M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only reviewing Adam’s Image, I read Promise Me Forever many years ago. Adam’s got a problem with his image, all right. The lovely Susan falls for him after a great connection with him at a party. Although he’s a successful doctor, he’s got a complex about his looks; he thinks he’s not good enough for her. He kept going back and forth between hot and cold for Susan; I was getting tired of that. And then the book ended so abruptly. Meh.

[Shannon Humphries · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like this author. I enjoyed the first book, but the second story made me cringe. The male love interest was so terrible to the narrator of the story. I just wanted her to leave and be done with him. I also felt like it took way to long to explain what his problem was and it never really got dealt with. Not my favorite book.

[Camandwmm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promise Me Forever was a nice heartfelt romance, enjoyed reading it. Nice characters. Adam's Image not as enjoyable. Adam is in good mood one minute and a bear the next. Knowing someone in real life like that, took enjoyment out of story.

[Michelle L. Ledesma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story was great. But I couldn't get through the second story. The main character was trying to change herself to attract a guy. Personally, that frustrates me. If he likes her, he like her as she is, not who she trying to be what she thinks he likes.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t realize that these were old novels republished.

[Lili Trudeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 very sweet stories

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her books are easy to read and very similarly written.

[Debra Harris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not a book reviewer, but it's worth noting that the second book in this collection glorifies verbal and emotional abuse. Disappointed in this novel as a long-time Debbie Macomber fan.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough reads but not ones that sank deep in my brain or left me thinking about them for very long.

[Carol Stanley-Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read over the winter.

Two stories for the price of one....

[Ann Boytim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Two short stories in one book - easy summer reading

[Dawn Whiddon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book love all of her books

[LINDA MORALES]

I enjoyed reading this book.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first story more than the second story but in the end I liked them both. The first story reminded me of a happier ended Me Before You.

[Tina Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute story.

[Rosemarie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! What a stupid, stupid woman in "Adam's Image" and Adam was a whiny jerk. I hate not finishing a book, so I read it to the end. Blah!!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

beach read for sure.

[Lisa Dupuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick. Light. Read.

[Laura Jacques · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute

[Amanda Szigeti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best second story kind of went on and on couldn’t tell who was talking when and got confusing! But the first story was good !

[Gisele Adriano · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is interesting but doesn’t hold you,

[Carolyn Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn’t thrilled with this book. Lots of mistakes and if Adam had been a man I was interested in I would have locked him out of my life after the first temper tantrum he threw.